The Benefits of Crying

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power.”

That quote by Washington Irving is one of the truest things I have ever heard. Have you ever had such a good cry that you felt so much better when you were done? That’s because crying, in itself, is very healing. It takes strength to heal and there is such a strength in both allowing yourself to cry and in getting up, wiping your eyes, dusting yourself off and moving on from the moment that dropped you to your knees.

We all cry for different reasons. Tears show up with happiness, sorrow, fear, anxiety, gratitude, frustration, laughter, surprise, and any other emotion you can think of. Tears even show up without any emotion at all.

There are three types of tears. The first is Reflex Tears. These tears are what happens when your body needs to clear debris, such as dust, pollen or smoke, from your eyes. This helps to protect them from damage. The second kind of tears are known as Continuous Tears. Continuous tears continuously moisten your eyes, preventing infection. These tears contain 98 percent water. The third type of tear is Emotional Tears. These tears contain stress hormones and other toxins, which could be why we feel better after an emotional cry, studies suggest, but more research needs to be done on that finding.

There are many ways tears, or crying, is beneficial to us throughout our life besides aiding in the detoxification. Crying helps soothe pain, regulate the body, enhance mood, relieve stress, nutrient support, process emotion, promote bonding and enhance vision. In fact, babies’ muscles are built when they are crying. It is their first workout!

One of the best things about crying is the emotional relief you feel. It can be so beneficial to just have a good cry. Crying releases oxytocin and endorphins which aid in us feeling better. In fact, it has been studied that crying in a counseling or psychotherapy session “has a better therapy outcome, as facilitation of emotional expression is an important step in successful therapy.” According to Psychology Today.

So, go ahead, don’t fear crying! It’s good for you!